Device checks your alcohol level (San Diego Transcript column)

No longer need you guess at your alcoholic intake before getting into your car. The AlcoHAWK PT500 from Q3 Innovations, LLC. is a handheld, breath alcohol tester that is about the size of a smart phone. It uses a fuel-cell sensor that is claimed to be highly accurate and eliminate false positives. The company recommends it for professional use as well.

It's quite simple to use. Turn it on and insert one of the disposable plastic blow tubes into the side of the unit. Press the enter button and blow into the tube for 5 seconds. Three seconds later, the processing is completed and the display registers the blood alcoholic content (BAC) between .000 percent up to .400 percent. It requires you wait for 20 minutes after drinking before getting a measurement.

In the interest of my readers, I tried it before having a drink and it registered .000 percent. I then drank about three ounces of wine and took a second test 20 minutes later. It registered 0.020 percent BAC. Twenty minutes later it fell to .014 percent. The legal level of driving while intoxicated in California is .080 percent BAC.

The AlcoHAWK PT500 costs $299. It comes with a hard case and 50 extra breathing tubes. It's a useful device to offer guests at your parties, for use in bars and lounges, and for educational purposes. It easily demonstrates the effects of alcohol on BAC to your driving age kids and should leave a lasting imptression. (www.q3i.com)